Pickup



June 12, 1945. s, D, RUSSELL 2,378,107

PICK-UP Filed April 19, l94l 4 Sheets-Shee't 1 INVENTOR- ATTORNEY June 12, 1945.

S.D.RUSSELL PICK-UP Filed April 19. 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY June 12, 1945.

s. D. RUSSELL PICK-UP Filed April 19, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

MUWJZ/ M @EM/ ATTORNEY June 12, 1945.

PICK-UP Filed April 19, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m N N N Q N 4 F5 I l o *3 g l I 1 U 3 w :7 S w I 6 13 N *1 Q N N v Q a a a a s a a a a b I g D O O O O O O U 0 0 O O k N I l 1 Q Q N Q 1 82; g a m m w u 1 x, g

V b k 0 h h 1 r o i &

INVENTOR STANLEY 0. Russia Jim ATTO RNEY Patented June 12 1 945 UNI-TED.

, PICKUP Stanley D. Russell. mine. win, saline: to 1.1. Case Company, Racine. Win, a corporation Application April 19,1941, serial No. saasos wheels as w and having e; drawbar portion D.

' 18 Claims.

The-present invention relates to baling machinery and more particularly to a pickup device for supplying such machinery-with hay, straw,.or*'

other material to be baled directly from the windrow during passage of the baling machine over the The baler is driven as by an engine E actuatinga fly wheel F and has a feeder head of-suitable or An object of the i'nvention is to generally 1111-; prove the construction and operation of pickups.

Further objects are to provide pickup mecha-' nism of simple construction, consistingof few parts; such mechanism which is more reliable and less subject to damage than prior construe tions.

A further object is to provide such a pickup whicirwill require no carrying wheels, shoes or the like in contact with the ground.

Further objects areto provide a. pickup which will gather the material in a cleaner manner than known constructions and which will handle the material more gently.

A further object is to provide such structure which may be raised for transportation and low ered for operation, but which is supported from I the baler under all conditions.

, A-further object is to provide an improved apron conveyor and tension adjusting and release means therefor.

well-known type H. A platform P is provided to accommodate an operator .who supervises the feeding process and also drops the blocks in wellknown manner, the details of such a baler per se being well-known, it is unnecessary to describe the baler further except to state that it has a sill or frame member 9 from which part of the pickup I is supported, and a frame member 9a from which otherparts are supported.

Material to be baled is picked up by a, pickup unit, generally designated as 10, carried on the baler as will appear and which sweeps the ground as by fingers l ll I, but without resting thereon.

Picked up material is raised to an'apron conveyor generally designated as l2 which elevates it to a late I; ovenwhich it slides onto a cross conveyor generally designated as M and which may be of suitable or well-known type leading toward feed- Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the annexed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pickup device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of a baling ma chine with the pickup mechanism attached, the

latter in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of, a portion of-Fig. 2 enlarged and with the parts in a different position.

Fig. 4 is. a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 enlarged and with parts broken away. I

Fig. 6 is a detail of certain mechanism'indicated in Fig; 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail ofcertain mechanism indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 8'-8 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters have been applied to the same parts throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring first to Fig. 2, the machine illus trative of the invention includes a baler generally I designated as B, supportedon one or more ground fingers'on any element 22 lie in the same plane.

er head H in well-known manner. Accordingly, during progress of the baler across the field, material is picked up from the field and. automatically deliveredto feeder head H and accordingly to thebaler.

- Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, pickup in includes a cylinder or cylinder-like member mounted on a shaft I5 which may be hollow if desired to reduce weight, and journaled in bearings I8 and I1 carried on braces l8 and I9, supported from the baler as will appear.

v Shaft l5 carries a plurality of heads as 20 and 2| or other spacer members of suitable type, having engaged therewith a plurality of elements 22--22 in the present instance composed of tubes orpipes fixed as by bolts 23-23 with flanged portions as 24 of heads 20 and 2!. The result is a cage-like cylindrical structure which is readily rotatable in bearings l6 and I1, elements 22 each carrying a plurality of above mentioned teeth Ii. Teeth Il may be of any suitable or preferred type, in the present instance being constituted in pairs, 3, length of suitable spring wire being coiled as at 25 about one of elements 22, and curved under the head of a bolt 28 or the like traversing the element. The wire is also coiledas at 21 and then projects as at 28 to form the other finger. A plurality of pairs of fingers ll isarranged on each of elements 22 and in the present instance so that 1 normal to shaft l5 as do fingers on others of elements'22, In the present instance, fingers ll extend from elements 22 substantially radially of the cylinder, although other dispositions of the fingers are contemplated if desired. Supported about the cylinder is a plurality of strippers .2929, in

' the present instance comprising channel section strips with their flanges turned in toward shaft united by upright members as 34 and 35 fixed respectively in any suitable manner witlbraces I8 and I9, thus defining a rectangular frame from which a series of strips 29 may be supported.

A brace 36 extends from member 33 to a suitable point such as the junction between each of strips 29 andeach of strips 30. Each of strips 29 thus is secured in position sufficiently rigidly for its purpose. As suggested in Figs. 1 and 4, strips 29 define a drum-like stationary unit, the spaces between the strips constituting slots through which fingers extend.

Strips 29 in their course about elements 22 gradually recede from apoint beneath the cylinder until. at a point substantially above the cylinder they are spaced therefrom substantially to the extent of the length of teeth H. In effect, therefore, teeth upon counterclockwise rotation of shaft l5, as seen in Fig. 3, will project a maximum distance at or near the bottom of the pickup and will gradually withdraw within the drum defined by strips 29 until they disappear substantially directly above the drum. The teeth, therefore, sweep the ground and pick up loose hay or straw-like material propelling it upwardly and over the top of the cylinder and backwardly as seen in Fig. 3 until the teeth withdraw inside of the drum defined by strips 29. At this point following material continues to propel the material just picked up onto apron conveyor |2.

Braces l8 and I9, in the present instance, are fixed with a tubular or other suitable fulcrum member 31 supported for rotation in a fixed position relatively to baler B as will appear. Rotation of fulcrum member 31 will accordingly cause raising or lowering of shaft l5, framemembers 3|, 33, etc., and accordingly of the entire pickup ||l.

Frame member 34 carries a plate or support 36 pivotally connectedas by a pin or the like 39 with a side member 40 constituting part of a frame generally designated as 4| of apron conveyor |2. Frame 4| ma comprise above mentioned side member 49, cross members 42 and 43 and a side member 44, Fig. 1. Any other suitable construction may be used, if desired, the frame serving to space rollers 45 and 46, in the present instance fixedwith shafts 41 and 48 respectively, journalecl in bearings as 49 and 50. Member 44, as more particularly seen in Fig. 5, is pivoted as by a pin 5| to a plate 52 fixed with above mentioned upright member 34 and therefore constituting a part of the pickup frame. Apron conveyor I2 is therefore pivoted to the pickup frame and remains in receiving relation thereto during raising and lowering movements thereof. movement results in substantial fore and aft movement of the upper end of conveyor l2. Conveyor l2, therefore, is supported on links 53 and 54 (Figs. 3 and 5) pivoted as at 55 and 56 to side members 46 and 44 respectively and at 51 and 58 to frame members 59 and 59 constituting part of the above mentioned cross conveyor I4. In

This

this manner conveyor I2 is supported to be free to move forward and back as necessary.

Apron conveyor I2, as above noted, includes rollers and 46 about which is disposed an apron conveyor 60, in the present instance comprising a belt portion 6| having a series of cleats or ribs as 6262. The ends of belt 6| may be united in any suitable or well-known manner, but in the present instance a special cleat 63 fixed with one end of belt 6| abuts a mating cleat 64 fixed with the other end of belt 6 I, the two being united by means of a series of fastenings, bolts, or the like 65. Belt 6| in the present instance is .driven from upper roller 45. Bearing 56 is slidable in guides as 66 and 61 and a, spring 68 is compressed between bearing 56 and above mentioned cross member 43. A similar bearing 63, Fig. 1, supports the opposite end of shaft 48. The expansion of spring 68 and a similar spring 1|] urge bearings and 69 downwardly and accordingly tension belt 6|.

Expedients are provided for removing the tension from belt 6|, for well-known purposes. In the present instance a shaft H is suitably rotatably supported in bearings as 12 in side members 40 and 44 and has a plurality of cables or-other flexible elements 13 and 13 (Fig. 3) wound thereon as indicated in Fig. 5. Cables '13 and 13 pass through suitable openings in cross member 43 and are fixed respectively with bearings 50 and 69. Rotation of shaft accordingly tightens the cables and slides bearings 50 and 69 upwardly against the pressure of springs 68 and '19. This moves roller 46 so as to loosen belt 6|. In the present instance, rotation of shaft ll may be effected by a hand-wheel 14, although other manually operated means is contemplated, and shaft H may be maintained in position as by a ratchet 15, Fig. 6, fixed with shaft II and engaged by a pawl 16 pivoted as at TI to side member 44. Tension may be restored to belt 6! by releasing ratchet 15 from pawl 16 in well-known manner.

Returning to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, fulcrum 31 may be supported from baler B in any suitable or wellknown manner, for example, a bracket 18, Figs. 2 and '7, is carried by sill 9 of baler B and has for example a long bolt 19 extending outwardly therefrom. The outer end of bolt 19 is carried in a strut or push bar (see also-Figs. l and 8) extending forwardly from an axle 9| carried by ground wheels W and constituting part of baler B. Bracket 18 and strut 80 are spaced apart as by a sleeve 82 surrounding bolt '19 and on which is journaled above mentioned fulcrum member 31. Push bar 80 also has engaged therewith a stay 83, adjustable as by nuts 84-84, stay 83 as seen in Fig. 2 being fixed with frame memand fixed with fulcrum 31 in any suitable manner as by welding at 88. Oscillation of fulcrum 37 will accordingly raise and lower pickup 10 as will be apparent. A lever arm 89 is also fixed with fulcrum 3? and extends generally upwardly.

A tension spring 56, Fig. 2, extends in the present instance .backwardly from lever arm 89 to an adjusting screw 9i journaled in a bracket 92, carried for example by a strut 93, in the present instance extending backwardly from axle I, screw II having a crank or other manually operable member 04. Rotation of crank 64 turns screw 3| and causes movement of a nut fixed with spring 56. Accordingly the tension of spring 50 may be readily adjusted and in the present illustrative embodiment it'is made suilicient to overcome the weight of pickup I0 and conveyor I2 or at least that part of it which is carried on fulcrum 31. Thus pickup I0 tends to rise from the ground to the upper position indicated in Fig. 3 might be lowered spring 30, or as in coming spring 00.

by reducing the tension in This is done by means of a compression spring 06, in the present instance traversed by a rod 01 which is guided in a suitable aperture in above mentioned lever 86. Rod 31 may be moved longitudinally, as will appear,

to compress spring 06 between lever 80 and anabutment 96 fixed on rod 91, in which case the combined pressure of spring 96 and weight of pickup I0 and conveyor I2 will overcome spring 90 and cause pickup I0 to drop to its lowermost position. Pickup I0 is therefore held down by the resilient pressure of spring 06 and may readily rise to clear an obstruction or, if necessary, because of uneven ground.

As seen in Fig. '1, fulcrum 31 has a tongue member 09 projecting upwardly in the present instance adjacent bracket 18 and which may limit any oscillatory movement of fulcrum 31 by engagement with stop screws I00 and lllI, respectively, to determine upward and downward positions of pickup I0, Screws I00 and I0! may be carried in brackets I02 and I03, in the present instance, for convenience, fixed with bracket 13, lock nuts I04 and I05 being provided, if desired, to maintain the adjustment. IOI may be readily positioned to locate pickup I0 in either its upper or lower position.

To brace fulcrum 31 against the substantial pull of spring 30, above mentioned strut 93 (Fig. 4) may also extend forwardly of axle 8I and may have a bearing portion I06, engaging fulcrum 31.

Any suitable means may be employed for actuating rod 91, in the present instance a bell crank (Fig. 2) having levers I01 and I08 being fulcrumed at I09 on baler B and having a pedal IIO pivoted to lever I08 and the present instance by over-- extending upwardly and in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Pickup I0 roller 45.

. above mentioned cross conveyor I4. Cross con- Screws I00 and through platform P. Pedal IIO may have suitable means for maintaining it in lowermost position, for example a notch III engageable with a latch plate II2 fixed with platform P. Pedal IIO will be held in its upper position,'as shown in dotted lines, by rearward movement of; rod

91 under the influence of springs 96 and 90 under which condition spring 90 will overcome the weight of pickup P and cause lever .arm 89 to move backwardly. However, if pedal I I0 is pushed down to the full line position, and notch I I I is interlocked with plate I I2, rod 91 is pushed forwardly and spring 96 is compressed, through bell crank levers I08 and I01. The operator riding on platform P accordingly has immediate control of the position of pickup I0 and may However, pickup I0 is also free to rise of its own accord against the resilient pressure of spring 36 if an obstruction isencountered. The drives for these various units are as follows.

Ground wheel W carries a sprocket 3 engaging the upper run of a chain II4 supported for example on an idler ll5 journaled on a pin raise it, if necessary, to avoid obstructions, etc.

adjustable thereon,

I" supported for example on a bracket H1. and if desired, in any suitable manner. Chain II4 also passes about a sprocket or the like III, Fig. l, fixed in the present instance on a shaft Ill journaled in any suitable manner on baler B and connecting as by an extensible tumbler shaft I20 with above men-- tioned shaft l5, a ratchet drive I2l of suitable or well-known type, being preferably interposed, if desired to prevent reverse rotation of pickup elements'22-22 in the event baler B is backed up. A ground drive is accordingly obtained for pickup I0, which is-desirable in that its speed is substantially proportional to the rate of prog-' ress of the baler.

Conveyor I2, however, is driven by power,/ in

the present instance a shaft I22,'being the main shaft on which fly wheel F is carried, carries also I25 mounted on a shaft I26 in the present instance concentric with above mentioned pivot 50. Shaft I26 carries a sprocket or the like I21 driving, as through a chain I23, a sprocket-I29 fixed in the present instance on above mentioned shaft 41 forming the axis. of above mentioned Rotation of shaft I22 accordi'ngly drives roller 45 and causes the desired motion of belt 6|. Since shaft I26 is concentric with pivot 58, motion of link 54 does not disturb the driving relation between sprockets I21 and I29 while shaft I26 may remain. on a fixed center relatively to shaft I22. In the present instance. shaft I26 extends into a gear box I30 of suitable or well-known ,type'having a filler cap I3I and a driven shaft I32 which may be connected in any suitable or well-known manner to drive veyor l4 being of well known type, it is not necessary to describe it further.

At times in picking up a windrow, because of interference by thewind or for ,other reasons, it is necessary to hold the picked up material in con-.

tact with pickup I0 and conveyor I2. For this purpose, a hold-down unit generally designated as I33 is provided. On forwardly extending brackets I34 and I35, Fig. 1,.a strip I36 is pivotally supported and has longitudinally extending strips or bars I31-I31. Strips I31 may have upwardly turned ends at their front portions, forwardly of pickup I0, and extend rearwardly and upwardly substantially parallel to each other and in position to-rest lightly on apron or on material traveling thereon. The weight of strips I31 is sufficient to prevent blowing of the picked up material before it can be delivered to cross conveyor I4, and the 4 strips also provide a "bite between and pickup I0 so as to insure continuous upward movement of a windrow over pickup I0 and avoid any tendency for the pickup topush material ahead of it. Strip I36 may be supported in one or more holes as I38, Fig. 2, so as to be adjustable to vary the distance between the pickup and holddown member I33.-

Strippers 29 are distributed substantially evenly between teeth II but atione end of the series of teeth, a stripper I33 is provided, Fig. 1, defining an edge of pickup I0 andhaving fixed therewitha flare sheet I40 constituting roughly a seetion'of a cone and defining a channel over pickup I 0 and onto conveyor I2. A similar stripper I at the opposite end of pickup I0 has a flare sheet I42 for a similar purpose. Flare sheets I40 and I42 may register with outer guards or sides I43 and. I44 defining a continuation of the channel over themselves pickup l0. Flaresheets I40 and I42 together with sides "3 and I cooperate effectively with holddown I33 to prevent material being inadvertently removed from the pickup.

The above is a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, but'it is to be understood that other details of construction within the knowledge of one skilled in the art are contemplated as equivalent and that the invention is not to be taken a limited by anything in this specification or in fact in any manner except as defined by the prior art and th annexed claims. -What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a pick-up for a baler having baling mechamism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder and yield'able thereon, said teeth being supported in fixed relation to the cylinder, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and generally following the path of travel thereof but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, a hold down element positioned outside of said strippers to engage material being picked up and maintain it in contact with said strippers and teeth, a roller disposed in the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive material stripped by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

2. In a pick-up for a baler having baling mechanism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder and yieldable thereon, said teeth being supported in fixed relation to the'cylinder, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and generally following the path of travel thereof but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, a roller disposed in the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the rolier and positioned to receive material stripped by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

3. In a pick-up for a baler having baling mechanism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder and yieldable thereon, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and generally following the path of travel thereof but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, a hold down element positioned outside of-said strippers to engage material being picked up and maintain it in contact with said strippers and teeth, a, roller disposed in the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive material stripped by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

ing the path of travel thereof but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, 3 hold down element positioned outside of said strippers to engage material being picked up and maintain it in contact with said strippers and teeth, a, roller disposed in the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive material stripped by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

5. In a pick-up for a baler having baling mechanism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder and yieldable thereon, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and generally following the path of travel thereof, but receding from th cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder,

a roller disposed in the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive material stripped by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

6. In a pick-up for a baler having baling mechanisrma cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder, and normally supported in fixed relation thereto, a plurality of strippers disposed between said teeth and generally following the path of travel thereof, but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, a roller disposedin the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive material stripped 'by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

4. In a pick-up for a baler, having baling mechanism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder, said teeth being supported in fixed relation to the cylinder, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and generally follow-' 7. In a pick-up for a baler, having baling mechanism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and .generally following the path of travel thereof, but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, a hold down element positioned outside of said strippers to engage material being picked up and maintain it in contact with said stri ers and teeth, a roller disposed in the region where the picked up material leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive material stripped by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

v 8. In a pick-up for a baler, having baling mechanism, a cylinder rotatable on an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the baler, a plurality of pick-up teeth projecting from the periphery of said cylinder, a plurality of strippers disposed between the teeth and generally followin the path of travel thereof, but receding from the cylinder in the region where it is desired to have the picked up material leave the cylinder, a roller disposed in the region where the picked up ma terial leaves said teeth, an apron conveyor carried on the roller and positioned to receive ma terial' stripper by the strippers and to convey said material toward said baling mechanism.

9. In a pick-up baler, a baling machine, means for supporting the baling machine for travel over the ground, a substantially rigid outrigger element extended at one side of the 'baler for supporting a pick-up device, an arm extending forthe ground, a substantially rigid outrigger element extended at one side of the baler and including a rockable pivot, a forwardly extending arm fixed with a pivot, a pick-up supported from the arm and means for controlling the rockable pivot for floatingly supporting the pick-up, including an arm extending upwardly from said pivot, a tension spring connected to the arm and stressed to exert a force thereon sufllcient to raise the pickup,-and a compression spring engaged with said arm in opposition to said tension spring, and means for compressing said compression spring for overcoming said tension spring and causin said pick-up to descend to a lowered position.

11. In a pick-up baler, a baling machine, means for supporting the baling machine for travel over the ground, and a pick-up supported on the machine for vertical adjustment relatively thereto, means for controlling the adjustment of said pick-up including opposed'springs, one of said springs being stressed to maintain said pick-up continuously in a. raised position, and another of said springs being adapted when stressed to overcome the first spring and cause lowering of said pick-up, and a foot pedal'forstres'sing one of said springs for causing adjustment of said pick-up.

12. In a pick-up baler, a baling machine, means for supporting the machine for travel over the ground, a pick-up supported from the machine for vertical adjustment relatively thereto, opposed spring means for controlling the vertical adjustment of said pick-up one of said sprin means being stressed to maintain said pick-up continuously in a raised position, and other of said spring means being adapted when stressed to overcome the first spring means and cause lowering of said pick-up, and stop means for deter mining the up position of said pick-up when one spring is stressed and for determining the down position of said pick-up when both springs are stressed.

13. In a pick-up baler having a ground wheel and a fly wheel shaft, and including a pick-up cylinder and an apron conveyor hingedly connected to and extending from the cylinder and; having a free end supported on the baler, means'. i

for driving said apron conveyor including a driving element on said fly wheel shaft, a driven element on said pick-up means, connections from said driven element to said apron conveyor, flexible driving means extending between said driving element and said driven element and a sepa-' 

